Chapter 27
MAE
Ivan rears back and strikes Basil in the face again.
Basil throws his hands out, and a burst of magic sends Ivan flying.
He lands on the barrel with a thud. He scrambles and launches himself at Basil again.
Luca jumps out of the way, just narrowly avoiding Ivan’s fist. Basil throws a hand up and deflects the blow.
Asmo sits back in his chair, a grin spread across his face. “Do something!” I hiss. But he just sits there, eyes twinkling as he watches Ivan and Basil.
Males are useless. I throw a shield around Ivan as Basil prepares to go on the offense.
“Sit,” I command. “Now.” Basil watches Ivan, jaw clenched and hands balled into fists. “Now,” I repeat.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Basil whispers. He sits on the edge of the couch, unfurling his hands and cupping his knees. He angles his body toward Ivan, who sits on the opposite side of the couch, Luca sitting awkwardly between them.
Etta raises her head and looks at Ivan. “They saved my life.”
“They stole you from the throne,” Ivan fires back.
Etta shakes her head. “No, Ivan. I don’t think you understand. I was going to die out there. They took me in. They saved me.”
What would I have done, in her shoes? I was lucky enough that Asmo was there to save me, not someone I didn’t know. I don’t blame Etta for staying.
“They could have brought you back to the castle. We could have saved you.”
Etta takes a deep breath, fidgeting with the material on her pants. “They would have risked everything. It would have exposed their entire operation.”
“I don’t give a damn,” Ivan says incredulously.
Etta’s eyes shutter closed, as if she’s torn between Ivan’s anger and Basil’s decision. Torn between a before and after. “They didn’t know what to do. They made a choice. But it was mine to stay.”
My mind races. Etta has been alive this whole time. She knew I was on the throne but didn’t make a move to restore her position. My life could have remained unchanged if she had taken the throne back. I could have avoided so much pain—physical and emotional. We wouldn’t be here right now.
But that’s not entirely true. Cora would have found another way.
“I took months to heal,” Etta continues, “But when I did, I was given the choice to leave. I declined. The people here are good, selfless, and working toward something more important than me returning to the throne. They’re fighting for their rights, the rights they should have had all along.
So, I decided to stay and help them.” She turns to me and says, “I apologize for the hell you’ve found yourself in, and that my decision to stay forced you into that. ”
I nod in silent forgiveness. Although I’ve been grumbling about my position and its burden, I wouldn’t step away even if I could.
I’m surprised to find that even if I could go back and force Etta back to the throne, I wouldn’t.
Because then I wouldn’t have my friends, nor would I be this version of myself—the one that has found another piece of my heart in magic.
“You truly abandoned your birthright for this?” Ivan asks. He sounds sad.
Etta’s answering smile is tight. “Yes. It’s important.
” She looks around, to the walls of dirt, the bare-bones furniture.
“This place, these people, are good. Since staying here, I’ve learned more about the state of this kingdom.
Humans need our assistance and the Fae need help re-establishing themselves.
Maybe I abandoned my birthright so I can make it better. ”
Her hands have stopped twitching and her posture is straighter. She’s confident about this. No—proud.
Ivan stares at her, then looks at me. “And you agreed to this?” I nod. His face is blank as he asks, “You agreed to destroy your own throne? Both of you truly want this?”
Etta smiles, reminding me of the way she was yesterday when she explained everything to us.
“We would like to rebuild it,” she says, “Make it better. Make it something to be proud of. The Lower Houses and the humans are a part of this kingdom, but they have never had the same rights as members of the High Houses. And the Fae deserve to return home.” Ivan’s face pales at the reminder of the Fae, and I wonder again what I’ve agreed to.
“We want to rid the throne of the black rot that is Marik and the witches, then start over with a new kingdom, one that takes care of all its subjects.”
“And which one of you will rule?” Ivan asks, eyes darting between Etta and me.
Etta dips her chin toward me.
“I’ll continue to rule,” I say, as confidently as I can. If I’m being honest, I feel like an imposter on the High Throne again now that I know Etta is alive.
“She is the eldest sister, after all. The throne is rightly hers,” Etta says.
I blink. She’s right. Despite my mother not being Queen Adelaide, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is my father’s lineage. And I am the elder sister.
“Remind me of the conditions of the deal,” Ivan says to Etta. “Please,” he adds.
“Mae has agreed to help us rescue the prisoners set for execution. In exchange, we will assist you in fighting Marik and Cora.”
“That seems like an unbalanced trade,” Luca says. “What does that even mean, that you’ll assist us in fighting?”
Amaris leans forward. “Between the Lower Houses and the Fae, we have hundreds of citizens that are willing and able to fight. They are yours if you decide to take up arms.”
Luca raises an eyebrow. “In exchange for rescuing a few citizens?”
Etta nods, that smile still on her face. “And in exchange for your help in establishing the Lower Houses as a formal House.”
“And restoring the Fae Kingdom,” Amaris adds.
Ivan shifts in his seat.
“Once Mae is back on the throne, of course,” Etta says.
Luca leans back against the sofa, still sandwiched between Ivan and Basil, who scoots further to the side. “Okay then,” Luca says. “What’s the plan?”
It feels like a weight has been lifted. I was prepared for a bigger argument. Not that it would have mattered, because there’s no way we’re backing out of the arrangement anyway.
“Well, that’s why we’re here today. We need to come up with one,” Etta says.
“I think you all should move into Squall’s End.
I don’t know where you’re staying, but this has got to be safer than wherever you are currently.
Plus, it will be convenient for arranging our rescue missions, will allow you to train with our army, and familiarize yourself with our citizens. ”
I tilt my head as I consider her proposal. It’s not a bad idea, but I’m curious to know what the others think before I agree to it. Moving here was not a part of the deal, and I don’t want to force them to do anything else if they’re not on board. I’ve already agreed to enough without their input.
“We can achieve all of those things regardless of our living arrangements,” I respond. “Either way, I think one of the next steps is to get in contact with August and Barrett to inform them of our alliance.”
Etta’s jaw twitches. “I would like to wait on that.”
I freeze. “Why is that?”
She hesitates, glancing down at her lap. “You have to understand, Squall’s End has been hidden for decades. I don’t want to show our hand too quickly. What if this arrangement doesn’t work?”
“So, you want to stay hidden…while also becoming a formal House?” Asmo asks dubiously. His fingers drum on the worn leather armrest. “Those two are mutually exclusive. Which is it, Etta?”
She doesn’t answer. She watches him, lips pursed, then snaps her gaze to me. “You’re sure about him?”
“Yes.” My answer is quick and decisive, my net bobbing along the river undisturbed.
She huffs a breath. “Well, if I’m being honest with you, Mae. His presence gives me pause. His brother just tried to kill me, then stole the throne. Who’s to say Asmo isn’t Marik’s backup plan to finish you off?”
“I would never hurt Mae.” Asmo’s tone is deadly, ice cold. It rings with truth.
Etta turns her gaze to him, as if seeing him through a new light. “Did you have anything to do with Marik’s plan to steal the throne?”
He doesn’t take his eyes from her. “No.”
“Did you know of it?”
“No.”
She stares at him for a beat longer, then turns back to me.
“Fine.” I tilt my head at her easy acceptance of his answers.
Can she detect lies, too? “I agree with you. Speaking with Barrett and August should be next. But I would appreciate some time to do so. Do you agree to hold off for another week?”
I freeze. A week? Another week of Elle being in Marik’s hands? “No, I’m not okay with waiting a week. Elle is being held as Marik’s prisoner.”
She rolls her shoulders back, as if sitting here and working with us is proving to be a monumental test to her endurance.
“The extra time will give us time to plan for the conversation with August and Barrett. It’s arguably the most important conversation we’ll have, and it needs to be thoroughly thought out.
” Her features soften, and she adds, “Getting Elle out is a priority. She was my friend, too.”
I inhale a shaky breath. “Etta, we have reason to believe that Marik is controlling her using dark magic.”
Her eyelids shutter, and she sucks in a sharp inhale of air.
The softness is gone. “Well, while I am sorry to hear that, all of the citizens in Squall’s End are counting on me for their safety and their futures.
Like I said, Elle is a priority, but we do not risk the mission or the safety of others to rescue her. ”
I don’t care. Marik is a monster, and Elle is at his hands.
Elle sacrificed herself not once, but twice, to save my life.
And I’ve left her to rot in that castle with him.
I swallow every word, each one thick and sharp.
Instead, I nod. Etta has offered me more hope of getting Elle back than anybody else.
The rest of the kingdom has abandoned her.
Without Etta and the Lower Houses, we’d be back at square one.